BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN’S MEHTA VIDYALAYA, K.G.

MARG
Learning Material For Class – VIII
DATE – 20 April 2020 MCB Chapter -2 After Twenty Years
Instructions- Do the Word meanings, Key points and Activity Sheet in your
classwork copy with proper index entry.

Word Meanings –
1. Beat- the path that a policeman follows while on duty
2. Club- a heavy stick used as a weapon by a cop
3. Stalwart- strong and sturdy
4. swagger – to walk confidently
5. torn down- to destroy a building because it is not wanted any more
6. raised here – spent your childhood in that place
7. fortunes – large amount of money or wealth
8. parted at – separated, go in different direction
9. gets in a groove – follows a fixed routine
10. glare-strong or harsh light
12. trembled- to shake slightly, usually because you are cold, frightened, or very
emotional

KEY POINTS –
1. “After Twenty years” by O. Henry is an interesting story with a surprise twist. The story is
about two best friends who had to part ways. They return to keep an appointment they had made
twenty years ago.
2. Bob is waiting at the door of a hardware store in New York to meet his friend Jimmy Wells.
A policeman is on patrol duty. He asks Bob why he is standing there. Bob tells the cop that he
(Bob) is waiting to meet his friend.
3. Bob says that before parting they had made a promise to meet at the same place at the same
time on the same date after twenty years. Bob tells the policeman that he (Bob) has kept his
promise. Bob is sure that Jimmy Wells will surely come and meet him. After listening to the
story, the cop walks away.
4. Twenty minutes later, a tall man in plain clothes comes to meet Bob. Bob thinks him Jimmy
Wells, but realizes that the man is not his friend. Actually, the man is a police officer in plain
clothes. He gives Bob a letter from Jimmy. Bob learns from the letter that the police officer
whom he had met earlier was Jimmy, his old friend.
5. Jimmy Wells identifies Bob as the most wanted criminal in New York. But he does not want
to arrest his intimate friend. So he sends another police officer to do the work.
6. For Jimmy Wells duty is more important than friendship.

ACTIVITY SHEET
Q1. What does each of the following mean in the story? Choose the right option.
 a) on the beat:
i) moving around hitting every one with a stick
ii) on duty walking around the assigned area
iii) marching with his heart beating fast
b) guardian of peace:
i) a watchman
ii) a holy man
iii) a policeman
c) arm in arm:
i) with arms linked together
ii)with weapons in hands
iii)with handcuffs on wrists
d) plainclothes man:
i)  a man who wears simple clothes for grand occasions
ii) a policeman in civilian clothes while on duty
iii) a cine artist in ordinary costumes

Q2. Complete the table-

The Policeman (Jimmy Wells) The man waiting at the store (Bob)
1. In …………. 1. In Civilian clothes
2. Looked ………………….. 2. Pale square jaw faced with ………
3. Sharp and ………. 3. Casual and …………
4. Had no airs about him 4. Had a tendency to ……………
5. Kept his promise but was ……… 5. …………….. his promise
6. A sincere and …………….. 6. A sincere and ………………….

HOMEWORK
(Instruction – To be done in your English Homework copy)
MCB Raintree book – Page 19 do Ex-B & Ex- C (Q-1to 5)